ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. roll — a list
  3. board — a committee
  4. row — a line
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. row — to paddle
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. pass — a permit
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. rock — a stone
  15. lie — to recline
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. roll — a cake
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. rock — music
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. board — to get on

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com